7 ways to use a blank notebook as a coping mechanism

Lindsey from Crazysobergirl wrote about some great ways to use a blank notebook as a coping mechanism for addiction. In recovery, ideas like these can be very beneficial and useful. Check out her ideas below.

I don’t know about you, but I have an abundance of blank notebooks sitting around my house and for the longest time, I didn’t know what to do with them. I had bought them when they were on sale; who can resist a new notebook? So I got to thinking, what is something productive that I can use these for? Then it hit me, they’d be perfect to use as a coping mechanism! There’s so many different ways to use them! And then the idea was born, 7 ways to use a blank notebook as a coping mechanism.

Doodle/Color in it
There are many articles out there stating that doodling and/or coloring can help relax your mind and your body. It can also help to reduce a trigger if you are being affected by one. Also, it can help just to calm your nerves because you’re putting all of your focus on something else.

Make a gratitude list
Making a gratitude list can help remind you of what you do have and take your mind off of what you don’t have. It’ll also help to change your outlook to a more positive one because you’re forced to think about the good things in life instead of the negative things.

Write a positive letter
Write a positve letter of love to yourself or a positive letter of thanks to a friend or even a positive letter of hope to a stranger. Maybe someone is struggling with something similar and your letter of hope can encourage them to keep going. You can publish it or just keep it to yourself.

Write a short story
You can write a short story to keep or publish. Write a story of hope, a story of overcoming obstacles or a story of happiness to motivate yourself and/or others.

Journal
You can use your notebook as a journal and write in it daily, weekly or however often you want. Journaling is one of the older coping mechanisms I know of, I’ve been using it since I was really young and it really does help me.

Make a goal list
Make a list of goals for the day, they don’t have to be large goals, little goals will suffice. Also, you can make a list of goals for the month or year. Those would be a little bigger. By making a list of goals you are holding yourself accountable and giving yourself things to accomplish. That can be a great way to cope with life’s problems.

Make a list of motivational or inspirational quotes
They can be about life, about positivity or motivate you to get up and do something. I don’t know about you, but looking up and writing down inspirational quotes can completely turn my day around!

Lindsey provides some great ideas and examples here for how to use blank notebooks as a coping mechanism for addiction-recovery. If you have any other ideas that you would like to add, share them in the comment section. If you know of any other great coping mechanisms, let us know!